creek fishing - first smallmouth!

[INFrank]

Day off today, so I ducked out before lunch for a couple hours on the creek. I haven't had much luck creek fishing in the few times I've tried. Most of those trips, however, were during the winter, so I was hoping the onset of warm weather would bring some catches.

While I didn't catch anything large, I did manage a beautiful green sunfish, a bluegill, and my first ever smallmouth. Catching a smallmouth was actually my goal for the trip, and I'm always thrilled to add a new species to the inventory. 75F and sunny, although the creek water was plenty cold. Glad I brought my muck boots to wade around in the shallows.

I mainly used a Handing Magic L 4'6" UL with a Legalis LT1000. Line choice was disappointing -- I used 2lb Sufix Nanobraid and had repeated issues with knots slipping. Originally I had on a 3lb Sunline fluoro leader, but lost that on the second cast. I then went straight braid, but knots (improved clinch) kept slipping until I started pulling the tag end tight before cinching down on the main line. Lost 6 lures overall to knot slippage and snags. Thankfully just jigs and nothing expensive.

The smallmouth was obviously the highlight of the trip, and I hope the next one is bigger!

[gillchaser999]

Beautiful fish !
I love creek fishing. Even the little ones fight harder .
Fishing moving water is a challenge.

[SuperDave336]

Good catches. Beautiful colors

[BobC]

Those colors on the first fish are really beautiful.
Bob

[INFrank]

Those colors on the first fish are really beautiful.
Bob

Yeah, he is a pretty one! I thought it was a pumpkinseed at first, but then leaned towards green sunfish in mating coloration.

What I learned on this trip is I prefer a slightly longer rod than the 4'6" Magic L. I could use some more practice time on the short one, but overall I think some around 5' - 5'6" would suit me better. The short rod would be better for smaller, brushier creeks.

Also learned that I have problems with the 2lb Sufix Nanobraid. Using 4lb Xbraid I don't have hardly the knot slippage issues I see with the Nanobraid, and the Xbraid feels more supple. Any suggestions from those folks who have used Nanobraid before?

[skeetbum]

Glad you got the ones you did and sorry to hear of the line issues. That line is one of my go to for domestic braid. I use a 4lb mono leader religiously and join the two with a double uni with five turns each. I use longer tag ends to help with pulling tight. We spoke of a knot here a while back and it’s that one that I have the best success with. I’ll try to find the knot on YouTube if ya need me to. I can tie it without my glasses. For my tiny jigs I want all the action so I use a no slip loop knot. There’s a few versions but I use the one that Lefty Kreh had his name on at some point. He may not have come up with it but he used it an awful lot.

[Ketchn]

Beautiful creek bro , knots with braids are a problem sometimes, I would suggest less line on your spool btw , looks overfilled to me by a good bit. About 1/8 below the lip on the spool is considered the maximum on most spinning reels
That one sunfish is not a green sunfish, it kinda looks like a longear sunfish to me , but not sure if they exist up that far north .
Nice smallmouth for sure , love creek ketchn smallmouth, used to do that back when myself
Congratulations and KABOOM

[JUNGLEJIMJIGS]

Congratulations on your first smallie. Hopefully catch even more next time. Beautiful fish !!

[Slabjerkin']

Very good variety of fish especially the smallmouth ... too bad we do not have those here in Texas as I have heard that they will give one a good tussle. Thanks for the wonderful pictures.

[gillchaser999]

Very good variety of fish especially the smallmouth ... too bad we do not have those here in Texas as I have heard that they will give one a good tussle. Thanks for the wonderful pictures.

Don’t y’all have a Rio Grande bass that’s similar to the smallie ?
Here in Georgia we do have some smallies that have been stocked up in the northern part of the state, but down mid state where I live, I catch a shoal bass sometimes when I’m creek fishing . That’s close enough for me .

Edit : Googled the fish I was thinking of and it’s called a Guadalupe bass.